Ravens linebacker Adrian Hamilton hopes to earn increased role

It was a quiet rookie season for Ravens outside linebacker Adrian Hamilton.

Instead of reprising his role as a star pass rusher from his college days, Hamilton was active for two games as he spent the year familiarizing himself with how to perform on special teams.

Now, Hamilton is hoping to build a niche on special teams and as a situational pass rusher.

"I hope to be a bigger impact on the team," Hamilton said during running back Ray Rice's youth football clinic at Calvert Hall. "I hope to help the team get back to the Super Bowl. I just want to come in and work hard and make sure I keep my spot on the team."

As a senior at Prairie View A&M, Hamilton had 20 1/2 sacks to break the Southwestern Athletic Conference single-season record previously held by Indianapolis Colts standout Robert Mathis. He finished with 108 tackles, 26 tackles and 34 1/2 tackles for losses in two seasons at Prairie View with 81 tackles, 26 1/2 for losses and six forced fumbles as a senior, but went undrafted and signed with the Dallas Cowboys.

After being cut by Dallas, primarily due to his lack of experience on special teams, the 6-foot-3, 251-pounder was signed to the Ravens' practice squad.

He was promoted to the active roster for the final two games of the regular season, making a solo tackle covering a kickoff against the New York Giants. Then, Hamilton was inactive for every playoff game.

To climb the depth chart, Hamilton will need to impress the coaching staff during organized team activities and minicamp and demonstrate that he understands the defensive playbook.

"Yeah, definitely," Hamilton said. "Me not being a rookie anymore, embracing the playbook more and watching Paul Kruger and Dannell Ellerbe last eyar, it gives me a lot of inspiration to do better. I'm a lot more comfortable on special teams and I have a lot more experience to do it now."